Helloooooo everyone and happy late Easter to everyone who do celebrate this holiday! Due to Easter Monday, I'm a bit late in my schedule to post up the chapters for this story. Sorry!

Also, thank you as always for everyone's reviews. I simply love reading what everyone thinks and I have good news for those who are still following: due to how advance I am in this story, I will starting posting two chapters a week!

So enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. It'd honestly be cool though!

Stifling a yawn, Sora pushed open the flower shop's door. As soon as it opened, a little bell rang over her head and, like magic, Ino was instantly at the front desk waiting for her.

"Good morning princess!" greeted Ino on a cheerful tone.

"Good morning to you too. Also, please don't call me princess, it sounds weird coming from you..." said Sora.

Ino laughed lightly. "Someone's grumpy this morning. Didn't sleep well last night?"

"No, that storm was pretty horrible. Guess it's that time of the year again. Anyways, what did you want to see me for?"

"Right! You're seeing Daichi tonight?" asked Ino while sitting down behind the front desk.

While leaning on the desk, Sora answered thoughtfully: "yeah, at six."

"Do you know where you're going?"

"Well, from what he told me this morning, another exotic place near the entrance of the village."

"Oh? Did you choose that?"

"No. He came up with the idea," answered the black hair girl before stifling another yawn.

Ino studied her friend's face. "I thought you didn't like exotic food."

Sora stared at her friend, trying to figure out when she would have shared such personal information about herself. Seeing how her teammate is THE gossip queen, the girl has learned not to share so much about herself. "How do you know that?"

"That's beside the point." the blonde girl brushed off. "If you don't like your date plans, you need to let the guy know! You don't have to let him decide on everything."

Sora scratched her head. "I know, I know. But it makes him so happy. I don't want to disappoint him."

As she answered her friends, the door's tiny bell was heard from behind her. Turning around, thinking it was a customer, Sora saw Shikamaru and Choji walking in. She turned to look at her friend and said:

"Talking about making people happy, looks like it's time for me to leave."

Ino nodded. "I'll swing by your place later when I'm done work."

"Sure."

Sora started walking to the door. As she walked by Shikamaru, the boy greeted her.

"Hey."

She looked at him briefly, trying to figure out what he was up to but then decided to not bother with it. She simply said while pushing the door:

"Nice to see that I'm finally worth talking to again."

And just like that she was gone. Shikamaru let out a sigh while scratching his head. Of course, she'd still be mad at him for last night.

"You just had to cut in when I got to the good part with her," said Ino pouting.

"I told you, I'm not letting you sabotage it," answered the boy.

"What are you two talking about? And why is Sora so mad at you?" asked Choji confused.

"Ino here wants to sabotage Sora's relationship."

"What? Why? She's so happy right now…" said the brown hair boy, unsure of what was happening.

"That's the thing, she's not. He's controlling and dominating. As soon as she's going to start speaking up for herself, things will turn ugly."

Choji looked at his friend, confused. Shikamaru shook his shoulder. "Trust me; all I see is that she's happy with him." The black hair boy then crossed his arm and stared at the girl. "Sabotaging her relationship is going to hurt her. You need to stay out of it."

"Make me," she responded and pulling her tongue out.

"I'm going to have to follow you everywhere, I guess. What a drag…"

"You won't be able to."

The door's tiny bell rang behind them.

"There you are, Shikamaru," said the man walking in.

"Hey dad," the boy answered.

"You've been requested at the Hokage's office. She's expecting you as soon as possible."

Shikamaru sighed and Ino giggled behind him.

"See? Told you that you can't keep an eye on me all the time!"

"I'll find something…" he mumbled walking out of the shop with his dad.

Choji, who was left behind, standing there thoughtful, worried, and confused. Ino, on the other hand, hurried back to her work so she could finish as soon as possible and go see Sora.

On the way to the Hokage's office, Shikamaru tried to elaborate a plan to keep Ino away from Sora. It worried him how much harm the blonde girl could cause. As he was about to reach his destination, he heard:

"Out of techniques? Come and get new ones here!"

The boy stopped. Staring at the scroll merchant, he remembered that something had bothered Sora. While they were walking around on his birthday, she was about to tell him something about this man but was interrupted by Choji. The boy sighed. Resuming his walk to the Hokage's office, he decided that when things would be better with Sora, he'd ask her again.

Once inside the building, he lazily walked up the stairs until he reached the proper door. He then knocked and waited for an answer.

"Come in," said a woman voice.

He pushed the door open to find a blonde woman sitting behind her desk with her assistant, Shizune, standing behind her.

"You have requested my presence, lady Tsunade?" asked Shikamaru.

"Yes, yes. Come in!"

Once the boy was inside and the door closed behind him, Tsunade started her speech.

"You have been called here today for a rather simple mission: a C-rank mission. You will simply need to deliver a scroll to a feudal lord in the Tea country. There doesn't seem to be any danger expected. Do you have any questions?"

The boy started thinking. It was a bother that he was called on a mission when he wanted to keep an eye on his teammate so she won't sabotage his friend's relationship. Wait. Teammate… thought Shikamaru.

"Can we be only three on this mission?" he asked.

Tsunade thought about it for several minutes.

"Yes, do you have anyone in mind?" she finally accepted.

"Yes," started the boy. "For this mission, I want…"

A loud knock could be heard on Sora's door. In wonder, she went to open it knowing that it would not be Ino whose knocking was much much lighter. There, standing in front of her, was standing Shikamaru's dad.

"Mr. Nara! Um, hi!" she said, unsure what to expect.

"Hi Sora. Sorry for unexpectedly dropping by. Were you busy?"

"No, no! Not at all, come in!" she said awkwardly.

Once they were inside, she led him to the dining room and offered him some tea which he politely refused. Sitting in front of him, she clumsily asked:

"So...why are you here, Mr. Nara?"

At this point, she was afraid that he was here to talk to her about Shikamaru's recent behaviour. Although she was mad at him, she still felt bad for acting the way she was with him. She was even afraid that someone would blame her for it.

"Ah, right. I'm here on Asuma's request. When he received his mission yesterday, he knew that he wouldn't be here to perform your family's ritual with you for your parents tomorrow."

Sora bit her lip. She had almost come to forget about tomorrow. She had been so wrapped up in everything recently that she didn't know what to do or think anymore. Shikamaru's dad continued:

"If you accept, of course, it would be an honour for me to learn more about your family's ritual to honour the dead. I have read about it here and there but have never fully understood it."

"Oh… um, of course. It would be an honour for me also to have you help me…" she answered, still feeling awkward.

"I would have, of course, asked if Shikamaru was interested but it seems that duty called."

"Oh?" replied Sora. It seemed like friend's dad did not know about their fight.

"Yeah, he was called this morning to the Hokage's office."

"Um…" the girl twisted her fingers together uncomfortably. She felt bad to have him help her with the ritual without knowing about her fight with his son. She took a deep breath. "Mr. Nara… Shikamaru and I are… currently having our differences on something and our exchanges have not been very friendly recently. So, if you did not want to help me tomorrow because of this, I would fully understand."

She looked down at her hands, afraid of the man's reaction. However, his reaction was quite the opposite. With a loud laugh, he said:

"Well! That's why you seemed so uncomfortable with me! I should be the one asking you if you are comfortable with my presence."

Surprised by his reaction, she just blankly stared at him.

"Beside, Sora, I was good friends with your parents, more specifically your mother. I think it would make me some good to pay my respects, but that is only if you are comfortable with having me around!"

"So, you are not angry with Shikamaru and me fighting?" she asked still surprised.

"Haha, of course not!"

She smiled. Already, she felt a lot better. Their conversation was, however, interrupted by another loud knock on her door.

"Gee. I really am popular today," she mumbled, getting up.

"No worries, I was about to leave," the man said, also getting up.

While Shikamaru's dad was putting on his shoes, she opened the door to find Daichi.

"Oh, hi Daichi!" she said while looking up at a clock near here.

"Hi, darling. Sorry, I'm early but I couldn't wait to see you again!" he said with a big smile and kissed her on the forehead, making her feel rather uncomfortable.

The man behind Sora looked at them curiously. Daichi, looking up, finally noticed his presence.

"I'm sorry! Was I interrupting you?" he asked the girl.

Without answering, she turned and looked at the man who quickly replied:

"No! I was just about to leave actually but it's nice meeting you," he said getting up and walking closer. Stretching his hand in front of him, he added: "Shikaku Nara."

"Daichi Riku. A pleasure to meet you also."

The man first held the boy's hand, studying his face. Then, as if he had finished reading him like an open book, he let go and turned to Sora before saying: "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes, around two or three in the afternoon! Whichever one is better for you!"

"Three o'clock it is! Bye."

And with a last wave, the man left. At first, the other two stood there awkwardly in the doorway. Finally, realizing that they should maybe go inside, they walked in and the girl closed the door behind them.

"Nara? Like your teammate?" asked the boy.

"Yeah…" answered the girl, still feeling awkward from the fact that Shikamaru's dad had met her boyfriend.

An hour later, while they were walking toward that exotic restaurant, where Daichi had made a reservation, the boy was holding Sora around the waist. She had refused at first but the boy had insisted so much that she finally gave in. Furthermore, he kept talking about how fast his team's work was progressing and how amazing the school would look like. In silence, the girl simply nodded once in a while as she distractedly looked around.

As they reached the entrance of the village where the restaurant was, Sora noticed someone standing, with a bag packed, and waiting.

"Ino?" called out Sora as she got away from Daichi's grasp and walked toward the girl.

"Sora! I'm sorry I didn't come after all! I was busy packing up for a mission!"

"A mission?" she asked.

Before Ino could answer, another voice was heard behind them.

"Ah, Sora…" said Choji uncomfortably as he walked close.

"Choji? You're leaving on a mission too?"

The boy hesitated but then answered: "Yes…"

Ino started understanding Choji's discomfort as she started reflecting his expression. Sora looked from the girl to the boy.

"Wait. Who's your team leader?"

They looked at each other then looked down before answering at the same time: "Shikamaru."

Sora started to understand the situation. Her hands clenched into fists by her sides. Behind her, Daichi wrapped his arm around Sora's waist, not knowing what was going on nor that it was the wrong moment to impose his presence on the black hair girl.

"Let me get this right," she said, her voice filled with anger. "Shikamaru was called for a mission and asked to only get you two as his teammates. Am I right?"

The two were really uncomfortable and silently looked away. There was Sora's answer.

"Glad to see how much of a team we make!" she spat out as she got out of her boyfriend's grasp and turned around.

But she froze on the spot when she saw Shikamaru walking their way, also with a bag on his back. A sense of discomfort could be felt emanating from the boy when he noticed her. Without giving him a chance to explain himself, she walked up angrily and with both hands pushed him backward.

"Shikamaru Nara! This time you have gone too far! I can't believe you purposely excluded from a mission!"

"Sora, I…"

"Shut up! I won't ever forgive you Shikamaru! Ever!" she shouted out.

She then ran off. Standing there awkwardly, Daichi stared in funny way at the boy that had made Sora run off and then ran after her, although much slower.

"You never told me that she wasn't coming, Shikamaru… I feel like an idiot now!" Ino told her friend.

"I didn't think it was necessary…" he tried to explain.

"Not necessary? Do you even know how she feels right now?"

"She's right, Shikamaru… We're supposed to be a team no matter what," said Choji.

"I know and I'll have a lot of explaining to do to her but first, let's go."

Together, they slowly walked out of the village. This was probably the first time they had a mission and were feeling depressed while leaving Konoha.

Thankfully for Daichi, the girl had simply run off to the restaurant where they were supposed to go to. Although she was clearly upset, Sora still made the effort to enjoy her evening and that was enough for the boy. Tonight, however, he had seen a side of the girl that he had never seen before. He also felt unsure about what was happening between Sora and Shikamaru. When she had yelled at him and ran off, Daichi had noticed on Shikamaru's face a sense of despair and pain. The thought angered him, automatically assuming that there could be more going on between the two of them. Right there and then, the boy swore that he would not Sora lose to him.

Here you go guys! Thank you for reading this far.

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